May 29,�The Iran Project � An Iranian senior official has announced that the slamic Republic is a leading producer of biotechnological medicines at the regional level.

Speaking about Iran�s status in the region in the field of biotech drugs, Mostafa Ghanei Deputy of Science and Technology and the Secretary of Biotech Development Headquarter said that now there are 146 biotech medicines in the world market of which 20 drugs are available in Iran�s market.

Of 20 medicines available in the country, 4 are monoclonal antibody drugs and 16 are recombinant drugs, Ghanei added.

He also stated that Iran has put 61 drugs on its national priorities of which 29 medicines are in various stages of production in knowledge-based companies and in various stages of laboratory, product stability, industrial, semi-industrial, and research.

It's anticipated that the new drugs enter the market until the next 2 to 3 years, so with the production of 49 drugs of the total 146 drugs produced globally, Iran will be ranked third in Asia in the near future, the Secretary of Biotech Development Headquarter stressed.

Reportedly, Iran has made a considerable breakthrough in biotechnology inasmuch as it is able to produce GM foods and Up until 2013 it has produced 18 different kinds of recombinant medicines.

With the help of biotechnology and recombinant drugs, Iran has seen a 30% drop in its drug export and 50% inflation growth has been controlled.